The Hues Corporation: UNDERRATED or WHAT????

[markydefad]

I'm listening to "The Very Best of The Hues Corporation" CD (BMG/1998) and am really reassessing my opinion of this group. I've always loved "Rock The Boat" (one of my first DISCO RECORDS) and "Rockin' Soul" was a good copycat followup....and then there was "I Caught Your Act" from later when they switched labels to WB. But I mostly thought they were a one-hit wonder type group. BUT, this CD is really knocking my socks off. I LOVE THESE TUNES...mostly LP tracks, I guess. I'm only half through, but "Love Corporation" (it WAS a single--why didn't I pay more attention????), "One Good Night Together", "Freedom For The Stallion", "Bound On a Reason", "Off My Cloud", "Family", "Go To The Poet", "You Showed Me What Love Is" and "Soul Sailin'" are DAMN GOOD. OK, now we hit a speed bump..."Ease On Down The Road" with a ricky-ticky piano (sounds like a showtune bar)...

There are 8 songs left. I'll report back if I find anymore gems...but the first half was great!!!! I supposed this is common knowledge to the rest of y'all. Hey, I never had a Hues Corporation LP. Tho thue me. :razz:

[Nano]

Neither did I, Marky. Frankly, your comments come as a surprise... I got the "Rock the boat" track recently and found that the voices are slightly out of tune in the middle of the song (when some of them go high-octave and the others keep low). I always read that as a sign of a low-cost production.

[markydefad]

Well Nano, it's Saturday...and there are no Trolls to fight with...so maybe I overstated my case, BUT it was damn catchy music!!!

Next, I'll be writing a doctoral thesis on the subtext of the "pings" in Anita Ward's "Ring My Bell"... (ping! went the strings of my heart!!!!) :razz:

[Nano]

BTW Marky, right now I'm the only visitor at the forum! Sign of an empty Saturday night... But here it's only 8PM, I have a concert afterwards.
Don't worry, probably these Hues Corp. guys are better than Eruption! :lol:

[NickNack]

You reminded me that I don't own a Hues Corporation lp either. I was thinking earlier this year about getting a "Greatest" CD, but was scared of getting burned.

Now that the high has worn off, do you still like the CD or is just OK?

[markydefad]

Nicky,

I've listened several times now and I still stand by my original assessment. The CD is "frontloaded" with the best stuff up front; after the piano bar version of "Ease On Down The Road" the CD is merely OK...BUT I would still recommend it--IF you're a fan of that smooth pop/soul mid-70's stuff. (I think you would enjoy it--check allmusic.com --there are several different CD compilations--this is the one with the red cover--it may be from the UK--I picked this one cause it had the most cuts).

[DanceMan]

Marky, do any of the songs sound like the four you mentioned? If so, I am soon to be an owner...as I loved all of those singles.....thanks babycakes....

[Marcio**]

I have just ONE The Hues Corporation long playing record pressed in Brazil: Hues Corporation-Love Corporation-1975:

1-One Good Night Together
2-Follow the Spirit
3-Long Road
4-Gold Rush
5-He's my Home
6-When you Look Down the Road
7-You Showed me what Love is
8-Love Corporation
9-Sing to your Song
10-Soul Sailin

It's a part of the puzzle !!!

[NickNack]

On 2002-09-07 21:20, markydefad wrote:
Nicky,

I've listened several times now and I still stand by my original assessment. The CD is "frontloaded" with the best stuff up front; after the piano bar version of "Ease On Down The Road" the CD is merely OK...BUT I would still recommend it--IF you're a fan of that smooth pop/soul mid-70's stuff. (I think you would enjoy it--check allmusic.com --there are several different CD compilations--this is the one with the red cover--it may be from the UK--I picked this one cause it had the most cuts).

Thanks, Mark. Yeah, I'm a fan of that type of music and I always liked Hues Corporation. Guess I'll break down and open the pocketbook, uh... wallet. Don't want to confuse anyone.